BOSTON — With two shots on net tonight, Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference is now averaging exactly one shot on net per game.

The difference now is he finally has something to show for his efforts.

Ference’s slap shot from left point eluded Michal Neuvirth with 8:13 elapsed in the first period to not only give Boston a rare 2-0 lead en route to a 3-2 victory, but also end Ference’s scoring drought at 99 games.

“It doesn’t make or break a game for me, but definitely it feels a lot nicer when you have one,” said Ference after the game about all the near-misses since his last goal since Feb. 22, 2009.

Ference finished the night with a plus-2 rating and three hits in 21:40 of ice time.

Andy Ference is a respectable 5th/6th D (when he is healthy). He’s somewhat undersized, but usually makes the most of his hockey sense and abilities, and seems to be a great team guy. The main issue at hand is that most 5th/6th defensemen don’t get top-4 minutes and a top-4 contract extension. Well, at least AF puts a lot of his time and money towards good environmental causes.

You can be hate on Chiarelli for dishing out that doozey of a contract, but not the player who would’ve been out of his mind not to take it.